A.J. Smith's final draft class

San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (54) chases after New York Jets quarterback Greg McElroy (14) during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
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San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (54) chases after New York Jets quarterback Greg McElroy (14) during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
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Describing this year's draft, Tom Telesco used the word unique a few times, and it will be if he uses the 11th pick to select a player. The only other time the Chargers owned No. 11, they traded it to the Packers in 1971 to acquire defensive tackle Kevin Hardy. (Hat tip to Scott Yoffe of Chargers media relations.)

Here are a few other draft-related items:

It's too early to grade A.J. Smith's final draft class with ink. Using cyber ink here, I'd give it a C, but see potential in several players. All seven of those draftees remained with the team in some capacity last season.

Melvin Ingram played in all 16 games with two starts, tied for the team lead with 12 special teams tackles and tied for second with 18 quarterback pressures. Ingram, even with the costly penalty at New Orleans, had a better rookie season than that of the team's first-round selection of 2011, Corey Liuget. If Ingram's improves as much as Liuget did in his second season, the Chargers will be thrilled.

The top performer in the class, I believe, was second-round choice Kendall Reyes, who worked all 16 games while starting the last four at left defensive end. He led the entire team in quarterback pressures (19) and quarterback hits (15), while ranking second among all defensive linemen in tackles (34) and sacks (5.5).

Guard Johnnie Troutman spent the year on injured reserve. For most of the year, running back Edwin “Rock” Baker (seventh round) was on the team’s practice squad.

The Chargers sat out the sixth round, having dealt that pick and their original third-round pick (78) to move up five spots in the third round to select Taylor. In his only start, against the Jets, Taylor suffered a torn ACL.

Here's the breakdown on the franchise's 52 first-round selections: nine defensive ends, eight cornerbacks, seven running backs and linebackers, five wide receivers, four offensive tackles, three quarterbacks, two defensive tackles, tight ends and safeties, and one guard, center and fullback.

One of the two safeties the Chargers drafted in the first round, Jim Hill from Texas A&M, in 1968, will be in New York on April 26 to announce the Chargers’ picks in the second and third rounds. Hill is a TV sports anchor in Los Angeles.